Opinions on cutting and threading a rifle

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West5575

Well-Known Member
I’ve finally decided to purchase a suppressor. Of the dozens of rifles I’ve owned and traded I only have two that are threaded (a 22 LR and a 6.5 Swede). I’d really like to have a short barrel 308 for woods and stand hunting. Both are the most prevalent ways to hunt deer in my area. My 6.5 is a tikka with a 22.5” barrel which is fine for more open country stalking but with a suppressor not ideal for tight quarters.

Anyway, I’ve been thinking about setting up a new rifle with a 16-18” barrel. But got to thinking maybe I could have my CZ 557 sporter cut down a little and threaded. Figure I can put that money toward a suppressor rather than a new rifle and scope. Guess I’m just torn I really like the rifle as is with the 20” heavy sporter barrel, but it wasn’t an expensive rifle or collectible at all, and I think moving forward I’ll use it more if I have it outfitted for a can. Just looking for a little affirmation from the group I guess.

I’m interested in one of the new Sakos in a 308 with a 20” threaded barrel so I could save money here and maybe use and enjoy a rifle I already have more and get a nicer rifle down the road. Thoughts?
 
West5575 said:
I’ve finally decided to purchase a suppressor. Of the dozens of rifles I’ve owned and traded I only have two that are threaded (a 22 LR and a 6.5 Swede). I’d really like to have a short barrel 308 for woods and stand hunting. Both are the most prevalent ways to hunt deer in my area. My 6.5 is a tikka with a 22.5” barrel which is fine for more open country stalking but with a suppressor not ideal for tight quarters.

Anyway, I’ve been thinking about setting up a new rifle with a 16-18” barrel. But got to thinking maybe I could have my CZ 557 sporter cut down a little and threaded. Figure I can put that money toward a suppressor rather than a new rifle and scope. Guess I’m just torn I really like the rifle as is with the 20” heavy sporter barrel, but it wasn’t an expensive rifle or collectible at all, and I think moving forward I’ll use it more if I have it outfitted for a can. Just looking for a little affirmation from the group I guess.

I’m interested in one of the new Sakos in a 308 with a 20” threaded barrel so I could save money here and maybe use and enjoy a rifle I already have more and get a nicer rifle down the road. Thoughts?
Click to expand...
.308 is a prime candidate for shortening, you’ll lose a little velocity but for your type of hunting it will do the job well and accuracy shouldn’t suffer.

I’d get the 557 shortened and maybe look at the S20 later on , so you have the option of both lengths with moderators in the future. Obviously just make sure you have the CZ thread match the factory thread of the S20 so you can swap between the 2.
 
Don't think about it too much, chop away and get on with your life. For woodland stalking a short barrel is ideal - no more banging on branches, banging on the car boot at 4am (with corresponding fear of loss of accuracy) or swinging off your shoulder. 308 is very unfussy and copes very well with a short barrel with factory ammo. A moderator restores the balance to what you might be used to. Don't listen to the long range target shooters who say you need 24 inch barrels, the velocity loss is meaningless to a stalker.
 
I personally don't really like shorter than 22" as i velocity but if you happen to go on YouTube theres a channel called texas plinking. He has a 12.5" barrel 308 he was shooting out to 1000y the other day. Pretty sure it was 12.5", could have been shorter. Certainly puts it into perspective and to not worry about 16-18" for stalking
 
West5575 said:
I’ve finally decided to purchase a suppressor. Of the dozens of rifles I’ve owned and traded I only have two that are threaded (a 22 LR and a 6.5 Swede). I’d really like to have a short barrel 308 for woods and stand hunting. Both are the most prevalent ways to hunt deer in my area. My 6.5 is a tikka with a 22.5” barrel which is fine for more open country stalking but with a suppressor not ideal for tight quarters.

Anyway, I’ve been thinking about setting up a new rifle with a 16-18” barrel. But got to thinking maybe I could have my CZ 557 sporter cut down a little and threaded. Figure I can put that money toward a suppressor rather than a new rifle and scope. Guess I’m just torn I really like the rifle as is with the 20” heavy sporter barrel, but it wasn’t an expensive rifle or collectible at all, and I think moving forward I’ll use it more if I have it outfitted for a can. Just looking for a little affirmation from the group I guess.

I’m interested in one of the new Sakos in a 308 with a 20” threaded barrel so I could save money here and maybe use and enjoy a rifle I already have more and get a nicer rifle down the road. Thoughts?
Click to expand...
20” with a moderator is standard here.
18” very common.

Both work perfectly.

Why not get your 20” threaded. See how it works, and if you’re not happy, cut it down to 18”.

I stalk with a 24” barrel on one gun, with a mod. It is cumbersome, but not so much as to make it impossible. Just needs a little more care.
 
Thanks for the replies. After a bunch of research I chose to go with a shorty in 308 specifically because it seems to offer the best performance in a “shorty.” Even using pistol load data. I’m sure many have seen Ryan on Vortex’s podcasts talk about getting over 3000 fps with 130 gr monos.

I will have it threaded to 5/8-24 which is the standard here for that caliber and also matches my tikka 6.5. I initially thought to maybe just keep the length and thread at 20.5 but would have to see if there’s enough meat on the barrel at the end. Then I considered just cutting back enough to thread, maybe at 18” which is still on the table. I’ll talk it over with my smith before doing anything.

But basically I’m happy with rifles that are overall 40” or so when in the woods, and I think the 308 will handle being shortened enough to get close to that. I’ll update the thread on my progress. I’ll have plenty of suppressor questions when it comes time to purchase as I’ve never used one before and it’s pretty overwhelming all the options. Thanks for the input!
 
Mungo said:
20” with a moderator is standard here.
18” very common.

Both work perfectly.

Why not get your 20” threaded. See how it works, and if you’re not happy, cut it down to 18”.

I stalk with a 24” barrel on one gun, with a mod. It is cumbersome, but not so much as to make it impossible. Just needs a little more care.
Click to expand...
I may cut it back in stages. I have the Tikka with a 22.5” barrel and will use it suppressed some but like the idea of having a setup just to take out in the woods or in a stand. I can’t imagine putting another 5-6 on the end of that tikka and dragging through woods. It’s pretty thick out there.
 
Stevie/P said:
Don’t know what you guys are on about 16-18" barrels for woodland stalking what you doing crawling under briars.
Click to expand...
Well it’s probably different in my neck of the woods but in southern US it is very often like that. One of my main hunting properties involves climbing down a huge embankment full of briars (no trails) and crossing a six foot deep creek bed with no bridge.

For years I hunted with a Marlin 30-30 carbine with a 20” barrel. Handled great and was particularly good for snap shooting which is most common when on foot in the thick stuff. So I guess that’s what I have in mind in terms of handling.

(ETA I still hunt with that Marlin a lot. Just looking for something suppressed. With similar handling.)
 
West5575 said:
Thanks for the replies. After a bunch of research I chose to go with a shorty in 308 specifically because it seems to offer the best performance in a “shorty.” Even using pistol load data. I’m sure many have seen Ryan on Vortex’s podcasts talk about getting over 3000 fps with 130 gr monos.

I will have it threaded to 5/8-24 which is the standard here for that caliber and also matches my tikka 6.5. I initially thought to maybe just keep the length and thread at 20.5 but would have to see if there’s enough meat on the barrel at the end. Then I considered just cutting back enough to thread, maybe at 18” which is still on the table. I’ll talk it over with my smith before doing anything.

But basically I’m happy with rifles that are overall 40” or so when in the woods, and I think the 308 will handle being shortened enough to get close to that. I’ll update the thread on my progress. I’ll have plenty of suppressor questions when it comes time to purchase as I’ve never used one before and it’s pretty overwhelming all the options. Thanks for the input!
Click to expand...
I’d go a bit steady with people claiming fast velocities on the internet, unless they include pressure testing of the loads with the correct equipment. Otherwise they have no idea if they are actually within the safe pressure envelope of the cartridge……
 
West5575 said:
Well it’s probably different in my neck of the woods but in southern US it is very often like that. One of my main hunting properties involves climbing down a huge embankment full of briars (no trails) and crossing a six foot deep creek bed with no bridge.

For years I hunted with a Marlin 30-30 carbine with a 20” barrel. Handled great and was particularly good for snap shooting which is most common when on foot in the thick stuff. So I guess that’s what I have in mind in terms of handling.
Click to expand...
Ok fair enough..
A friend I stalk with has a Steyr scout .308 it has a 19" barrel it’s most awful rifle I’ve ever shot admittedly no moderator kicks like hell a real “loudenboomer” accompanied by a long Orange flash from the muzzle.
 
25 Sharps said:
I’d go a bit steady with people claiming fast velocities on the internet, unless they include pressure testing of the loads with the correct equipment. Otherwise they have no idea if they are actually within the safe pressure envelope of the cartridge……
Click to expand...
Fair and I’m not a speed demon anyway. The podcast I referenced didn’t give any load data just discussed capabilities. There is a lot of information floating around as loading 308 in 15” Encore pistols is common enough and plenty of people run 308 in ARs with shorter barrels than I’m looking at.

I’m planning on buying another 308 with 20” threaded barrel anyway (always wanted a Sako or something similar) and if I occasionally need or want more speed I would grab my 270. I won’t have a need to push limits with this.
 
Stevie/P said:
Ok fair enough..
A friend I stalk with has a Steyr scout .308 it has a 19" barrel it’s most awful rifle I’ve ever shot admittedly no moderator kicks like hell a real “loudenboomer” accompanied by a long Orange flash from the muzzle.
Click to expand...
I’m 47 and have never shot a suppressed rifle. They just were never common here and very frowned upon when hunting (actually was mostly illegal) until pretty recently. So I guess we have been used to that. You should see what happens when I unleash my 45-70 Guide Gun at dusk (18.5”). Looks like a canon.

Hence wanting to jump on the suppressor bandwagon quickly 😂. The government finally dropping the $200 tax stamp has also helped nudge me but it wasn’t until the last year I even owned a threaded rifle anyway ha. Just wasn’t a thing here before but it’s been long overdue.
 
West5575 said:
I may cut it back in stages. I have the Tikka with a 22.5” barrel and will use it suppressed some but like the idea of having a setup just to take out in the woods or in a stand. I can’t imagine putting another 5-6 on the end of that tikka and dragging through woods. It’s pretty thick out there.
Click to expand...
Get a T3 and cut it to 16” then (was reading your description of the ground).

Or stick a mod on a lever action!
 
This whole needing a short barrel on a rifle, I just don’t get. Yet take a shotgun, every one wants 30” barrels, if not more, and keepers are all using 28” barreled semi’s which are long.

A longer barrel gives more velocity and is generally steadier and easier to use. A 20” barreled rifle with a reflex mod will be about 24” overall and shorter than most 28” barreled sxs or ou shotgun. Yet most will happily work through the woods with such a shotgun yet can’t work out how to use a rifle of such a length.

I suppose I am about 6ft tall so a 24 or 26” barreled rifle is nicely balanced.
 
I have a Tactical Operations rifle in .308. it has a short 18" barrel and will send a 150 grain bullet at 2820 fps. The rifle was threaded for a suppressor, however suppressors are illegal in Canada. But the threads are covered with a thread protector and the whole thing is so exquisitely machined that you cannot tell.

So if you have threads cut on the barrel have it done by someone skilled. And get a proper thread protector so your rifle does not look like crapIMG-20250316-WA0018.webp
 
Last edited:
Mungo said:
Get a T3 and cut it to 16” then (was reading your description of the ground).

Or stick a mod on a lever action!
Click to expand...
That was actually exactly what I was planning to do. Just got to looking at the CZ and thought it might be a fun project.

I know the newer levers come threaded. Mine are older and I’d have to have the front sight set back. I’m sort of old school with my levers anyway. Aperture sights. I do have a pic rail on my Guide Gun with a peep sight on rear and QR rings on the scope.
 
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